Great Expectations | Pastor Shiloh Goodwin

What if the expectations we carry aren't burdens to bear alone, but invitations to step into something greater? This powerful message challenges us to rethink how we view God's calling on our lives. Drawing from the contrasting stories of King Saul and King David, we discover that both men were anointed and empowered by God, yet their responses to divine expectations led to dramatically different outcomes. Saul saw expectation as pressure and acted out of fear, trying to control and rush what God wanted to develop. David, however, viewed expectation as an invitation and trusted God's timing, refusing shortcuts even when they seemed justified. The disciples experienced this same transformation—their culturally-shaped expectations of a political Messiah were not destroyed but matured into something deeper. Their hope shifted from specific outcomes to simple obedience, and their confidence moved from Jesus beside them to the Spirit within them. We're reminded through Philippians 2:12-13 that God works in us, planting both the desire and ability to fulfill His purposes, but we must actively work it out with fear and trembling. The equation is simple yet profound: Expectation plus Response equals Outcome. Our choices determine whether God's promises become reality in our lives. This isn't about perfection—it's about direction, daily obedience, and small faithful steps that lead to the ultimate goal. When we stop treating expectations as weights and start embracing them as possibilities, we discover that God isn't asking for a perfect life but inviting us into a faithful one.